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Although some Canadians are disappointed Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet was not elected pope, those who yearn for a fresh breeze from the Vatican are pleased with the new Latin American pontiff.

A new Catholic focus on the developing world began Wednesday with the historic elevation of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the first Jesuit ever elected as Supreme Pontiff and the first from the Americas.

Canadian immigrants, as well as Catholics who care about the plight of the disenfranchised, are feeling hopeful about Bergoglio, 76, who has adopted the name, Pope Francis, out of respect to the famous Italian saint who turned his back on luxury to follow a simple life.

The Argentine cardinal, who gave a warm greeting to the crowd huddled in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, is known for his lack of pretension.

He has never lived in a mansion, prefers the bus to a chauffeur and has spoken out in frustration about the many people who have been hurt in Latin America by economic globalization.

The ascendancy of Bergoglio — who came in second in the 2005 conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope – is sure to instantly raise the profile of both Latin America and the entire developing world, which is the source of most of Canada’s seven million immigrants, many of whom are Catholic.

“We’re all very proud he was chosen. All Argentinians are rooting for him. We hope he brings improvements to the church,” said New Westminster Catholic Estefania Wujkiw, 21, who moved to Canada from Argentina when she was 10.

“(Bergoglio) is known in South America for being a humble man who always deals with the poor, the sick, the prisoners. He speaks up about social issues. With him being elected pope, Canadians will see how ethnically diverse the Catholic Church is.”

The more than two-thirds of the 115 cardinals who voted for the Latin American leader have responded to a worldwide groundswell, which saw many pray for a pope who would finally come from outside Europe.

The son of an Italian immigrant/railway worker, Bergoglio has never been considered an insider at the Vatican.

Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet was frequently highlighted in the media as a potential “compromise” candidate for pope because he was born beyond Europe, has held influential positions inside the Vatican and has led a seminary in South America.

Yet, despite Vatican watchers frequently placing Ouellet among the top three papal contenders, some of the 12 million Catholics who live in Canada have only expressed mild disappointment their homegrown 68-year-old favourite did not become pontiff.

Ouellet’s mother and siblings in La Motte say they are “proud” of their high-level family member, but “relieved” he has not become pope and look forward to private gatherings with him in the summer.

As well, there is always the possibility Ouellet could be chosen to lead the 1.2- billion member church when Pope Francis — who is among the oldest pontiffs ever elected — either dies or retires.

A cardinal from Latin American was the clear choice for the first non-European pontiff in 1,000 years. The region is home to 40 per cent of the world’s Catholics.

However, the Catholic Church is struggling in many parts of Latin America, including Brazil and Argentina, as it is loses adherents to Protestantism and liberal secularism.

Bergoglio’s sudden fame, nevertheless, can’t help but put renewed emphasis on Catholics throughout the developing world, after centuries of Europeans dominating the Vatican hierarchy.

Even though Latin America has far more Catholics than any other region, it has only been granted 17 of the Catholic Church’s 115 cardinal positions.

In Canada, Latin Americans make up only five per cent of all immigrants, but the vast majority are Catholic. In total, Statistics Canada reports 30 per cent of the roughly 260,000 immigrants who have arrived in Canada each year since 2005 have been Catholic. The Latin American community of roughly 30,000 in Metro Vancouver is growing rapidly, with the highest concentration in southern Burnaby.

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller welcomed the election of a pope from Argentina.

“I think it’s a marvellous step. It reminds the world that the church is universal. The church is not European,” said Miller, whose parishes are dominated by immigrants from Latin America and East Asia.

In the past few days several prominent Canadian Catholics — former Victoria bishop Remi de Roo, Vancouver Filipino community leader Ted Alcuitas and Christi College Jesuit instructor John O’Brien — have said they wish for the next pope to come from the developing world, since it will highlight economic and justice issues.

“I believe Filipinos throughout Canada, since they are largely a Catholic population, will be excited about the new pope being the first from outside Europe,” Alcuitas, editor of Philippine Asian News Today, said Wednesday.

Mario Canseco, a Mexican-raised pollster for Angus Reid Public Opinion, said Wednesday he is pleased because with the election because it will raise the profile of Latin America, provoke questions about excessive wealth and shine the spotlight on the world’s many suffering people.

“One thing I would hope to see is more action on helping the poor, especially since one of the more recent criticisms of the Catholic Church has been its bloated expenses,” said Canseco, a practising Vancouver Catholic.

“This is a person who rides the bus and chose Francis as his name — this shows how deeply he cares about this issue.”

An international poll released this week by Angus Reid Public Opinion suggested most of the almost 100 million Catholics who live in Canada and the United States are more liberal than the Vatican on a range of sex-related issues, including contraception, married priests and female priests.

Although Bergoglio has never openly defied Vatican teachings regarding these personal moral issues, it did not stop Canseco from expressing he was “very happy” that Bergoglio is a Jesuit. The Jesuits have, over the centuries, developed a reputation for being relatively free thinkers within the Catholic fold.

Pope Francis comes with the reputation of a man who bridges the divide between conservative and liberal Catholics. Whether he will actually usher in many of the changes that will be celebrated by a majority of Canadian Catholics will be discovered only in the years to come.

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Douglas Todd: Canadian immigrants should be pleased with new pope (with video)

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